State Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-Rome, announced Friday that the state will not create a statewide database for ammunition purchase background checks through the NY SAFE Act.

The database has been suspended following a legal agreement that Senate Republicans reached with the governor’s office, Griffo said in a press release.

The moratorium on sales of ammunition over the Internet would also be lifted.

Sen. Griffo represents the state’s 47th Senate District, including the towns of Massena, Brasher, Norfolk, Stockholm, Potsdam, Pierrepont, Russell, Clifton, Fine, and Pitcairn in St. Lawrence County, plus Lewis and Oneida counties.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by New York State Director of Operations James Malatras and Senator Majority Leader John Flanagan Friday suspends for the time being the creation of any database that would require background checks for people who purchase ammunition.

“This agreement is a major accomplishment in confronting one of the most troubling provisions of this misguided law, and I am relieved that this database has been stopped before it ever had a chance to start,” Griffo said. “It has been very clear that such a database would be an infringement on Second Amendment rights and technologically problematic, so I am glad that it is finally being recognized as the poorly thought-out concept that it is.”

The agreement further promises that no state money would be spent on implementing the database until a cost plan has been approved by Flanagan and Malatras.

Griffo’s office said that ever since Griffo voted against the SAFE Act when it was passed in 2013, “he has remained an active voice in building the momentum to reverse this unjust, unfair and unconstitutional assault on the public’s constitutional rights.”

In June, the Senate approved a series of changes co-sponsored by Griffo that attempted to address “the worst aspects of the SAFE Act that many constituents in his district have made clear will not be tolerated, including a full repeal of the overly burdensome and costly state database program. The Assembly failed to act on these reforms this past Legislative session, but Griffo’s steadfast support for this legislation showed how committed he was to fighting on behalf of rightful and responsible gun owners,” the release said.

The statement said this was “the Senate’s latest step to rein in this flawed and over-reaching law.”

“I will continue to do whatever I can until the SAFE Act’s unconstitutional attack on the freedoms of every legal gun owner in the state is fully repealed once and for all,” Griffo said. “As this victory makes clear today, the Senate Republicans and I are committed to chipping away – piece by piece – every aspect of this law until it can no longer threaten our constitutional rights.”